Tehran Times - Iranian-Swedish midfielder Saman Ghoddos says that he will fight for his place in Team Melli starting line up with Ashkan Dejagah.

Ghoddos was invited to Iran national football team in the match against South Korea in the 2018 World Cup qualifier but didn’t play.

“The Iranian football federation asked me to join Team Melli’s preparatory camp in late September but I have to play in Europa League match with Ostersunds FK. I will join the Iranian national team in Russia in October,” Ghoddos said in an interview with SvenskaFans.com.

Ghoddos says he was treated well by everyone in Iran national football team.

“When I met them for the first time I saw so many talented players in Team Melli. Everything was professionally managed there. The players treated me well, I immediately felt like part of a big family,” he added.

“Ashkan Dejagah was one of the players who took good care of me, and everyone treated me well. Ashkan is my main rival in Team Melli but I will fight for a place with him. It’s normal in football. We are friends outside the pitch but we are competing for a place at the field,” the 24-year-old stated.

“I want to be a member of main team in the 2018 World Cup but I am well aware I will have a difficult job ahead of me. It's a dream come true to play with the best teams in the world,” Ghoddos concluded.